As they lined up to deposit their old, battered guns into a large metal container at the UNMIS disarmament and demobilization site in the city of Kadugli, several ex-combatants spoke of plans to invest their forthcoming financial compensation in farming.

As they lined up to deposit their old, battered guns into a large metal container at the UNMIS disarmament and demobilization site in the city of Kadugli, several ex-combatants spoke of plans to invest their forthcoming financial compensation in farming.

Nearly 1,500 former fighters have each received a compensation package of 860 Sudanese pounds, food rations for three months and a bag of household items since a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme commenced on 10 May in the Southern Kordofan state capital.

"I want to buy tools, sesame and wheat for my farm," said Hassan Achel, a resident of the village of Al Bardab who served in the People's Defense Force (PDF) militia during the Sudan's long civil war and has been farming since he left the PDF.

Wearing a checkered shirt and glasses, Juram Omar said he had harboured hopes of supporting his family when he joined the army 15 years ago. Though his expectations were never fulfilled, he remained in the military in order "to defend my people."

Taking part in DDR was a source of relief for Mr. Omar, who had wanted to dispose of his gun for some time. "Someone could have stolen it from my house," he reasoned, "and I would be held responsible."

Elementary school teacher Tachia Shantu expressed similar views. "I want to be free," he said. "There is no fighting anymore."

Mr. Shantu said he joined the Sudanese Armed Forces before 1990 and served until 2005 when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed. He added that he was looking forward to receiving the DDR aid package because he is the father of seven children, all of whom he wants to send to university.

One of the challenges posed by the overall DDR process was the need of many ex-combatants to travel to the disarmament site in Kadugli from their native villages, a trek that some had to undertake on a daily basis until their discharge documents had been prepared.

According to UNMIS DDR chief Adriaan Verheul, more than 5,000 former soldiers have been demobilized since 10 February of this year out of an initial caseload of 60,000 ex-combatants. Four sites are now operational in Sudan and are located in Ed Damazin in Blue Nile, Kadugli and Julud in Southern Kordofan and Juba in Central Equatoria states.